Key veterans elude Bills’ grasp

By Anthony Bialy  |   Wednesday, June 03, 2009  |  Comments( 72 )

Buffalo Bills
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Pisa Tinoisamoa is the final piece of the puzzle that the Buffalo Bills lost. The Chicago Bears nabbed an experienced, productive linebacker the Bills could have absolutely used. That’s been an unsettling trend this offseason. They failed to nab some notable players who would have instantly enhanced the roster. Meanwhile, they added the one receiver guaranteed to initiate a ruckus when there were ample quieter alternatives.

Former St. Louis Ram Tinoisamoa chose to reunite with Chicago head coach Lovie Smith, who was his defensive coordinator in 2003. But current opportunities should outweigh the pull of playing for a coach from six years ago; disturbingly, Buffalo couldn’t close the sale on those grounds.

Plus, he isn’t the only linebacker the Bills failed to land. Cato June is with the Houston Texans despite the fact he would have fit nicely in Buffalo. A small, quick player with coverage skills is exactly the sort of defender they could use, but it appears they’ll settle for hoping that high-energy reserve Keith Ellison can play like a starter.

The situation’s no better on offense. For one, the Bills failed to mend their feeble tight end situation even though the best tight end ever was available. Tony Gonzalez wanted to escape from the Kansas City Chiefs, but Buffalo let the Atlanta Falcons sink their talons into him in exchange for a second-round pick.

Instead, the Bills didn’t add a veteran tight end at all. To recap, their top three options at the position are Shawn Nelson, Derek Fine and Derek Schouman. They were drafted at an average spot of 158th; on top of that, the three have 29 games and 28 receptions in the NFL among them. It’s tough for fans to maintain the same hope that management has, namely that young late picks will be adequate.

As for wide receiver, the problem isn’t failing to add someone; rather, it’s the player the Bills added. Of course, they settled on a pathological troublemaker in Terrell Owens to fill their wideout gap. Worse, he wasn’t the only option. For one, the franchise let Laveranues Coles treat Buffalo like a layover on his way to becoming a Cincinnati Bengal.

Coles wasn’t the only seasoned option at wideout, either. The Bills could have attempted to obtain Torry Holt, but he’s a Jacksonville Jaguar now. Plus, the Bills get to face Joey Galloway twice this season after he signed a deal with the New England Patriots; it would have been nice if they could have used him against their perpetually dominant foe.

Marvin Harrison might also have one more good season left, and the Bills could have tried to squeeze it from him. But the team decided it wanted a player who will literally act like he’s starring in a reality show.

To be fair, the Bills have fortified the offensive line with Geoff Hangartner and Seth McKinney. Veteran cornerback, and new Bill, Drayton Florence will have an opportunity to earn a starting job; meanwhile, Dominic Rhodes brings experience to the running back squadron’s depths. And they have time left to, say, bring in a linebacker such as Derrick Brooks to see if he can still compete at a high level.

But they passed, or missed, on a decent number of available veterans at need positions. And, when it came to receiver, the Bills added the most talented player available with the most checkered reputation. The Bills are going to see if they can succeed despite the moves they didn’t make.
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